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Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year. Ujiri is in the press conference at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets president Josh Kroenke, left, and Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri celebrate that Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets president Josh Kroenke, left, and Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri celebrate that Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets executive vice resident of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year. Ujiri is in the press conference at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year. Ujiri is in the press conference at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year. Ujiri is in the press conference at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year. Ujiri is in the press conference at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri has been named the 2012-13 NBA executive of the year. Ujiri is in the press conference at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. May 9, 2013. (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Denver Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, left, talks with head coach George Karl during the first day of NBA basketball training camp in Denver. Ujiri was named the NBA's executive of the year on Thursday, May 9, 2013, a day after Karl was named the league's top coach. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

Denver Nuggets JaVale McGee (34) looks down at Masai Ujiri, Denver Nuggets General Manager and Ty Lawson as they pose for portraits during Media Day at Pepsi Monday, October 1, 2012 at Pepsi Center. The team also unveiled their new alternate uniform. John Leyba, The Denver Post

Stan Kroenke (L) with President and Governor Josh Kroenke and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri and Vice President of Basketball Operations: Pete D'Alessandro during the teams pre game shoot around. The Denver Nuggets take on the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the first round NBA Playoffs May 2, 2013 at Oracle Arena. (Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post)

Masai Ujiri. Denver Nuggets pose for portraits and meet with the media during Media Day at Pepsi Monday, October 1, 2012 at Pepsi Center. The team also unveiled their new alternate uniform. John Leyba, The Denver Post

Photos: Denver Nuggets’ Masai Ujiri wins NBA’s executive of the year

Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri has been named the NBA's executive of the year for 2012-13, an award voted on by his front-office peers. He constructed a roster that won 57 games, finishing third in the talented Western Conference, even though the Nuggets were the second-youngest team to make the NBA playoffs (Denver lost in the first round to No. 6-seeded Golden State).
"It's a little bittersweet for me — I would trade (this trophy) to be playing right now," Ujiri said Thursday at a news conference at the Pepsi Center. "Mr. (Stan) Kroenke (the Nuggets owner) didn't have to give me a chance. My background is scouting and the love of the game. But tons of people have given me great chances to be here."
Ujiri is the first African-born general manager in major American sports.